Western Cape Minister Calls for SANDF Member’s Removal From Operation After Tafelsig Woman Assaulted
- Western Cape Police Oversight Minister Anroux Marais called for a soldier to be pulled from Operation Prosper
- The soldier landed in hot water after he was filmed slapping a Tafelsig woman after she confronted him
- South Africans weighed in on Marais' comments, sharing varied reactions to the soldier's actions
- Kurt Nefdt, Community Outreach Officer to Minister Anroux Marais, provided an update to Briefly News
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Source: Getty Images
Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He worked as a newspaper journalist for 10 years before transitioning to online.
WESTERN CAPE — Western Cape Police Oversight and Community Safety Minister Anroux Marais has called for a South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldier to be immediately removed from Operation Prosper.
Marais made the comments following a video showing a soldier slapping a Tafelsig woman who had intervened during the arrest of her son. Marais said she was "disturbed and outraged" after viewing the footage and contacted the relevant authorities.
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She described the soldier's conduct as "completely unacceptable" and said it was undermining the already strained relationship between residents and security forces deployed in the area.
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Minister calls for accountability and formal referral
Speaking about the video, Marais said action needed to be taken.
"Whatever may have led to the confrontation cannot justify an assault on a resident by a member of our country's security forces. Our security forces are expected to act professionally, lawfully and with restraint, particularly when dealing directly with members of the public," Marais said.
She explained that she wrote to Western Cape police commissioner Lieutenant-General Sizakhele Dyantyi, requesting that his office monitor the investigation. She also called for the matter to be formally referred to the SANDF to ensure consequences follow.
"We need to see accountability. I believe it is absolutely necessary that this soldier be removed from any further interaction with residents of the Western Cape while this matter is investigated. Residents must be able to engage with our security forces without fear or the threat of violence," Marais added.
With Marais' assistance, the complainant, identified as Bonita Smith, lodged a formal complaint with the Military Ombud. The Ombud is currently investigating approximately 30 separate incidents of alleged assault by soldiers against civilians since the April deployment began.
Kurt Nefdt, Community Outreach Officer to Minister Anroux Marais, provided an update to Briefly News about the situation. Nefdt said that a formal letter was sent to the office of General Dyantyi.
"Discussions around this enquiry are on the agenda for a meeting between Minister Marais and General Dyantyi this coming week," he noted.
How did South Africans react?
South Africans on social media were divided over the incident.
@Peter_Savege asked:
"There's a soldier that needs a person and then just goes to her and klaps her. What did she do, what happened?"
@Biejanka4 offered context, writing:
"She wanted to disrupt their arrest of her son, who was arrested because they found illicit substances and an unlicensed firearm on him."
@AsifAli316269 said:
"Nah, this must stop. Concerted effort to undermine soldiers when people are interfering with their work and suffer the consequences."
@DrZaphnathP added:
"So-called 'victims' will never tell the whole truth; instead, they'll cry victim when it's actually them who caused trouble."
@Vc_Vncm wrote:
"They don't respect soldiers the way they respect their criminals there in Cape Town."
@MagebaWaseMbo87 said:
"Coloureds should just be left alone to deal with their problems as a community; those people are anti-law enforcement."
@Yknip1 commented:
"Means you are the crime; soldiers are not the problem that you insult and bribe!"
Other stories about SANDF members
- A SANDF reservist was fired after video surfaced, showing him drunk in full military uniform.
- A Hanover Park fashion designer claimed SANDF soldiers confiscated his custom camouflage trousers.
- An off-duty SANDF member was found dead with several gunshot wounds in Delft South on 8 April 2026.
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Source: Briefly News
